Extensible length level



April 23, 1946.

B. L. PARHAM ExTENsIBLE LENGTH LEVEL t Filed July 7, 1944.v

)n l Il' [NvfNTo/P, Blf/2LH L. PARHAM,

5r Mml Patented Apr. 23, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,398,851 iEXTENSIBLE LENGTH LEVEL Burley L. Parham, Southport, Ind. 'ApplicationJuly 7, 1944, Serial' No. 543,876

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a level indicating device which may beextensible in length whereby the level may ordinarily be carried aboutin a contracted length condition and then be extruded from either orboth ends to reach over longer areas than when in the contracted lengthcondition to secure greater accuracy in the `level indication. Theinvention further provides for an extremely simple and uniqueconstruction to achieve the above indicated results, all of which willbecome more apparent to those versed in the art in the followingdescription of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawingin which,

Fig. l is a view in side elevation and partial section of a structureembodying the invention in a partiallyl extended length condition;

Fig. 2, a view in top plan;

Fig. 3, a view in transverse vertical section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, a view in transverse section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5, a detail in partial section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews in the drawing.

A generally rectangular body in the nature of a box IU is provided witha spirit level tube II positioned along an upper edge thereof to makethe bubble I2 visible through a window provided in the top wall of thebox.

From each end of the box I flexible concaveconvex tapes I3, I4 and I5,I6 (two from each end) may be pulled therefrom. Between the outer endsof these respective pairs of tapes I3, I4 and I5, I5 are xed spacingblocks I'I and I8. By reason of the tapes being carried by the box I0 tohave their extensible lengths therefrom with the concave sidespresentedY on their opposite faces, and tying the outer ends of thepairs together, a fairly rigid extensible assembly is created.

Each of the tapes I3, I4, I and I6 is in the shape of the usual and wellknown steel measuring tape carried within a housing to be springreturned. The same spring return mechanism is employed in combination inthe present in'- vention whereby each pair of tapes may besimultaneously returned to their retracted length conditionsindependently of theV other pair. To achieve that construction, the boxI0 carriesin one end, referring now to the left hand side as shown inFig. l, two separate compartments I9 and 2li within which are coiledrespectively the tapes I3 and I4, and from which those tapes may bewithdrawn through top openings whereby the two. tapes may be pulled fromthe box I0 in parallel relation one with the other and with theirextreme outer edge portions in the same planes respectively as the topand bottom walls f the box Ill.

The tape I3, within the compartment i9, is coiled around a springcontaining drum il to which the inner end of the tape I3 is attached atthe point 2|, Fig. 1.

Within the spring drum 20 is coiled spring 22 fixed by one end to thedrum and by its other end to a center post 23 fixed to the box I0. Thuswhen the tape I3 is pulled from the compartment I9, the spring 22, beingso wound, iswound up tighter for the purpose ofreventually returning thetape I3 upon the release of a ratchet mechanism. 'I'his mechanismconsists of a rod 24, Fig. 4, extending down through the hollow postp23to strike a bar 25, Fig. 5, which extends across through slots providedin the post 23 and connects with a plate 2E normally urged up againstthe, underside of the 'spring drum 4t by means of the coil spring 2lsurrounding the post 23. 'I'he plate 26, Fig. 5, is notched out toengage with a plurality of tongues 4l that are pushed downwardly fromthe iioor of the drum 40. The engagement of the plate 25 with thesetongues 2l is such that when the return spring 22 is wound by pullingout the tape I3 the drum will be engaged in whatever position it may bewhen pulling on the tape I3 isstopped. Then to return the tape I3 to itscoiled position within the compartment 40, pressure on the rod 24 willcarry the plate 26 out of engagement with the tongues 4l to permitthedrum to revolve under the return pull of the spring 22. All of this is astandard construction and operation as found in the usual spring returnsteel` measuring tape. The same construction as above described is em-Dloyed for returning the other tapes I4, I5 and I6 to their retractedlength positions within their respective compartments provided in thebox I0. Therefore, each of these mechanisms, four in all, one in eachcorner of the box I il, need not be described in detail since each is aduplicate of the other.

Since there are two of these tape return mechanisms at each end of thebox I0, one for each tape to be extended therefrom, and since both tapesare pulled from the box in unison by reason of theirinter-engagementwith` the respective tie` bars I l and I8, both return mechanismsshould` operate inunison in order to return the two tapes at the samerate of speed. To accombeyond the limitations as may be imposed plishthis result, as indicated in Fig. 4, a button 28 is provided to extendthrough the side wall of the box I from a central point where it issecured to an operating bar 29, the ends of which bar respectively pressthe push rods 24 and 30. The rod 3U corresponds in its function to thatof the rod 24 in releasing the spring drum 3| for return of the tape I4.Therefore, by pushing on the button 28, both springs are releasedsimultaneously for return of the tapes `I3 and, I4 on the one end. Thebutton 32, Fig.r 1, toward the other end of the box performs a likefunction in respect to the return of the tapes I5 and I6. Therefore,either pair of tapes I3, I4 or I5, I 6 may be returned at willindependently of return of the other pair. I

In use, the level may be employed in restricted length conditionswhereby the tapes will all be retracted within the box I0, or where thelength of the surface permits, both pairs of tapes may be pulled fromthe ends of the box I0. In each instance, the tape will be for allpractical purposes an extension ofthe face of the box Ill and sufficientrigidity will be presented to permit the proper indication of degreeoflevelness of the surface or points being tested.

While'I have herein shown and described my invention in more or lessminute detail in one particular form, it is obvious that structuralvariations may be employed without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I, therefore-do not desire to be limited to that preciseform by the following claims.

I claim: 1. The combination of a body; a level indicating device carriedby the body along one edge portion; a convexo-concave tape carried bythe body normally in a coiled condition; -said body having an opening atone end thereof through which said tape may travel; means carried by thebody for positioning said tape to leave said coil by its edgessubstantially in the same plane as an edge face of said body, theconcave side of said tape being presented outwardly in relation to saidbody face; `a second like tape carried normally in a coiled condition tohave an end leaving the body through an opening therein adjacent an edgeface opposite said first face to have the tape edges in substantiallythe same plane therewith and the tape end directed the same as that ofthe first tape; both of said tapes being extendible from said body asspaced apart, free cantilever members; and a spacer memberinterconnecting and confined to the outer ends only of said tapeexternally of said body, whereby both tapes may be extendedsimultaneously from said body. l i

2. The combination of a body; a level indicating device carried by thebody along one edge portion; a convexo-concave tape carried by the bodynormally in a coiled condition; said body having an opening at one endthereof through which said tape may travel; means carried by the bodyfor positioning said tape to leave said coil by its edges substantiallyin the same plane as an edge face of said body, the concave side of saidtape being presented outwardly in relation to said body face; a secondlike tape carried normally in a coiled condition to have an end leavingthe body through an opening therein adjacent an edge face opposite saidfirst face to have the tape edges in substantially the same plane`therewith and the tape end directed Vthe same as that of the rst tape;both of said tapes I6 being extendible from said body as spaced apart,free cantilever members; and a spacer member interconnecting andconfined to the outer ends only of said tape externally of said body,whereby both tapes may be extended simultaneously from said body; andmeans releasably fixing said tapes in any of their extended positions;and spring means for returning the tapes to said coiled conditions.

.3.- The` combination of a body; a level indicating device vcarried bythe body along one edge portion; a convexo-concave tape carried by thebody normally in a coiled condition; said body having an opening at oneend thereof through which said tape may travel; means carried by thebody for positioning said tape to leave said coil by its edgessubstantially in the same plane as anedge face of said body, the concaveside of said tape being presented outwardly in relation to said bodyface; a second like tape carried normally in a coiled condition to havean end leaving the body through an opening therein adjacent an edge faceopposite said first face to have the tapev edges inv substantially thesame plane therewith and the tape end directed the same as that of thefirst tape; both of said tapes being extendible from said body as spacedapart, free cantilever members; and a spacer member interconnecting andconned to the outer ends only of said tape externally of said body,whereby both tapes may be extended simultaneously from said body; andmeans releasably fixing said tapes in any of their extended positions;and spring means for returning the tapes to said coiled conditions; anda control member operable exter nally of said body associated with saidspring means to set up substantially simultaneous operation of bothspring means.

4. An extensible length level comprising a body having top and bottomfaces; a level indicator carried by the body to be readable fromthe topface; each of said faces having an opening at corresponding ends; an endwall in the body having ends forming the outer margins of said faceopenings; means carried by said body for carrying coiled tapes adjacenteach of said openings, the tapes being oppositely coiled and so carriedthat ends thereof may be pulled through said openings over said end wallends to have the tapes in substantially parallelism and their outerfaces substantially in the planes of said faces; both of said tapesbeing eXtendible from said body as spaced apart, free cantilevermembers; and a member interconnecting said tape ends externally of saidbody and confined to said ends; each of said tapesv when extended fromtheir coiled conditions being concavo-convex in crosssection to assume astraight linear direction, one tape being reversed from the other inrespect to its cross-section curvature.

5. An extensible length level comprising a body having top and bottomfaces; a level indicator carried by the body to be readable from the topface; each of said faces having an opening at corresponding ends; an endwall in the body having ends forming the outer margins of saidfaceopenings; means carried by said body for carrying coiled tapesadjacent each of said openings, the tapes being oppositely coiled and socarried that ends thereof may be pulled through said openings over saidend wall ends to have the tapes in substantially parallelism andtheirouter faces. substantially in the planes of said faces; and aV memberinterconnecting said tape i ends externally of said body; Veach of -saidtapes of said tape end connecting members; spring means normallyreturning each of4 said tapes to coiled conditions; ratchet means forholding said tapes in selected unwound lengths in oppcsition to saidspring ,means; ratchet release means; and means operable externally ofsaid body to operate said release means in pairs to permit return of thepair of tapes at one end Vof lsaid body independently of the other pairof 10 tapes.

BURLEY L. PARHAM.

